Leuckart reaction of aldehyde (I) with formamide/formic acid at 160 C provided formamide derivative (II), which was hydrolyzed with refluxing 2N HCl to afford benzylic amine (III). Finally, treatment with methanesulfonyl chloride, in the presence of NEt3 yielded the title sulfonamide.
The bromination of 3-methoxybenzoic acid (I) with Br2 in refluxing acetic acid gives 2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoic acid (II), which is condensed with 3-chlorothiophenol (III) by means of cupric acetate in DMF at 150 C yielding the sulfide (IV). The cyclization of (IV) in sulfuric acid affords the thioxanthenone (V), which is condensed with 2-(diethylamino)ethylamine (VI) in pyridine at 115 C giving the corresponding 2-(diethylamino)ethylamino derivative (VII). The hydroxymethylation of (VII) with formaldehyde in hot 5N acetic acid yields the hydroxymethyl derivative (VIII), which is oxidized with MnO2 in hot toluene affording the corresponding aldehyde (IX). Finally, this compound is treated with formamide and formic acid at 170 C.